Writers' Theatre to stage 'Hamlet,' chamber 'Sweet Charity,' as part of 2012-13 season

Writers' Theatre, the Glencoe-based theater company, will stage an intimate version of the classic Broadway musical "Sweet Charity" in 2013, the ambitious company announced Wednesday. Doug Peck, who also is working on the upcoming Mary Zimmerman production of "The Jungle Book,"will work on the orchestrations of the Cy Coleman score, fusing what the company descibes as a "lively jazz combo" ideal for a 108-seat theater.

The show will be directed by artistic director Michael Halberstam in January; casting is not yet set.

Halberstam will also helm "Hamlet," featuring Scott Parkinson in the title role, Shannon Cochran as Gertrude, Liesel Matthews as Ophelia and Kareem Bandealy as Horatio. The moody Dane will take to the 325 Tudor Court stage in Glencoe in September.

At the company's smaller Books on Vernon stage, director Kimberly Senior will stage the Midwest premiere of "The Letters" by John W. Lowell, opening in October and slated to run for about four months.

In April 2013, Stuart Carden will direct the first American production of David Greig's "Yellow Moon," with William Brown's May 2013 production of David Ives' comedy "The Liar" (based on the work by Pierre Corneille) rounding out the notably bold and diverse subscription slate.